SYDNEY, Nov 20, 2009 (AFP) – Former winner Martin Elmiger will lead French team Ag2r La Mondiale at Australia’s Tour Down Under in January, organizers said on Friday.

Ag2r La Mondiale is the only team to have competed in every edition of the Tour Down Under and Swiss rider Elmiger won the 2007 tour.

The French UCI Pro Tour team has produced the most overall winners in the Australian event with Gilles Maignan (2000), Mikel Astarloza (2003), Simon Gerrans (2006) and Elmiger (2007).

The team will comprise Elmiger, Cyril Dessel (France), Blel Kadri (France), Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukraine), Rene Mandri (Estonia), Anthony Ravard (France) and Ludovic Turpin (France).

The Tour Down Under will be staged around Adelaide from January 17-24 and is headlined by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and Australia’s world road cycling champion Cadel Evans.